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Warner Bros shuts down Akira production – for now
by Doc on Jan.05, 2012, under Movies
The long- and highly-anticipated live action production of the well-known anime feature, Akira (and I mean long – we first reported about it just about 10 years ago), has been shut down by Warner Bros at least for a couple weeks, to see if the producers can shrink the budget even further.
The budget was already cut down to about $90 million when current director Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax) took over, where previously it was looking close to $200 million. But it appears the studio doesn’t believe the cast can draw the numbers still. The only actor currently signed on is Garrett Hedlund, who only saw moderate success with Tron: Legacy, while actors Ken Watanabe (Inception), Kristin Stewart (the Twilight saga) and Helena Bonham Carter (the Harry Potter franchise, Dark Shadows) in negotiations, but apparently that is not necessarily the star power they want for the budget. It is believed if they can cut another $20-$30 million, however, it may move forward.
Another British actor cast in Star Trek 2 – Sherlock‘s Benedict Cumberbatch
by Doc on Jan.04, 2012, under Movies, Television
Hot on the heels of the earlier announcement, another British actor is scored for Star Trek 2: Benedict Cumberbatch, who’s been pretty hot lately. After starring in the British mini-series Sherlock (with more episodes currently airing in the UK), he scored roles in The War Horse and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and is playing two rules in the upcoming The Hobbit films – the voice of the Necromancer and Smaug the Dragon.
Deadline reports that Cumberbatch will be playing a lead role, but nothing more. Could he be a villain? Khan?
January Syfy Saturday movies will collide planets and erupt a volcano
by Doc on Jan.04, 2012, under Television
Syfy plans to make a mess of the Earth this month with a pair of Saturday original movies.
In Collision Earth, premiering Saturday, January 14 at 9PM (ET/PT), a solar flare knocks Mercury out of its orbit and onto a collision course with Earth. With global devastation quickly approaching, the secret military initiative, “Project 7,” must be activated to save the world from disaster. Collision Earth stars Kirk Acevedo (Fringe) and Diane Farr (Californication), and is a production of Cinetel Films.
In Swamp Volcano, premiering Saturday, January 28 at 9PM (ET/PT), oil rig drillers in the Gulf of Mexico accidentally hit an underground lava flow, causing a massive volcano to form in Miami. Now a vulcanologist and her sister attempt to blow the whistle on an illegal oil drilling scheme before it sets off the eruption that will destroy civilization. Swamp Volcano stars Rachel Hunter (The Benchwarmers) and Brad Dourif (Lord of the Rings) and is a production of Bullet Films.
Doctor Who actor Clarke joins Star Trek 2
by Doc on Jan.04, 2012, under Movies, Television
In a cross-franchise, cross-ocean move, Noel Clarke, who played the recurring role of Rose Tyler’s boyfriend Mickey Smith on Doctor Who, is joining the cast of Star Trek 2 in an unnamed role, but the character is described as “a family man with a wife and young daughter.”
Clarke joins fellow British actors Alice Eve (She’s Out of My League) and Simon Pegg (returning as Scotty).
Star Trek 2 is scheduled for release on May 17th, 2013.
Christopher Lee’s Christmas message to fans
by Doc on Jan.03, 2012, under Movies
Actor (and Tolkien aficionado) Sir Christopher Lee, who turns 90 in May, gave a video Christmas message to his fans via YouTube, in two parts, which you can see below.
In part one, he talks about his roles of 2011, including Hugo and The Hobbit.
Unfortunately you can see that he has become weaker with age, and he even mentions that he doesn’t take long parts any more as he doesn’t have the energy. About the The Hobbit films, he says, “I hope to live to see.”
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Ghost Hunters Season 8 preview
by Doc on Jan.03, 2012, under Television
Ghost Hunters returns for an 8th season on Syfy January 18th, and we’ve got a special 9 minute preview of the upcoming season and a look back at some memorable moments!
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Merlin preview: “The Darkest Hour – Part 1”
by Doc on Dec.29, 2011, under Television
Merlin returns next Friday, January 6th on Syfy! In this preview, qw Merlin struggling with his magic and finds himself being attacked by a mysterious skeletal ghost though luckily, one of Arthur’s men was able to ward it off by waving fire before him. Quickly, Arthur and his men come running behind and urges everyone to retreat to a safer place. Next, we see the mayhem back at the castle and we witness the ghost taking the life of a guard leaving Guenevere fearful and terrified. Tune-in to the Season Premiere of Merlin on Friday, January 6th to find out of Merlin can regain his powers to destroy the evil demon.
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Sanctuary season finale preview: “Sanctuary for None, Part 2”
by Doc on Dec.29, 2011, under Television
In Friday’s season finale of Sanctuary, Henry enters the room carrying with him what appears to be a heavy piece of electronic equipment that was recovered outside the homeland district that he intends on studying to find out whats keeping everyone inside. Nikola quickly determines that he had single handily designed this little machine years before he was fired from SCU, which could contain almost any type of creature through pure electricity. Suddenly, they realize that a handful of these machines could produce enough energy to create an electrified web to destroy hundreds of bodies. Tune-in to the season finale tomorrow, as the team races to prevent the unleashing of a doomsday weapon.
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The War of the Worlds added to Library of Congress’ National Film Registry
by Doc on Dec.28, 2011, under Movies
The 1953 George Pal version of The War of the Worlds has been named one of the 25 films that will be added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, which lists films that are considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. Films so registered are then preserved by the LOC for future generations.
Another movie included is A Computer Animated Hand, a one minute short created by Ed Catmull as a grad student in 1972, which is one of the earliest examples of computer animation. Catmull would go on to co-found Pixar Animation Studios.
Other movies in this year’s class include Disney’s Bambi, Forrest Gump, The Kid (Charlie Chaplain’s first full-length feature), The Silence of the Lambs, and Stand and Deliver (an early starring role for Battlestar Galactica‘s Edward James Olmos).
Tracey Gold to star in Arachnoquake on Syfy
by Doc on Dec.27, 2011, under Television
Tracey Gold, the child actor who starred on Growing Pains in the 80s and then fought a public battle with anorexia to become a spokesperson for treating the disease, and starred in many TV movies, will join the cast of Arachnoquake, an upcoming Syfy Saturday original movie scheduled to premiere on Syfy in 2012.
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